Borders and War

In addition to territory being a common cause of war, it might also be interesting to look at the proportion of border incidents that become international incidents.

A Deadly U.S.-Iran Firefight

"U.S. soldiers [and] Iraqi forces on a routine joint patrol along the border with Iran, when they spotted two Iranian soldiers retreating from Iraqi territory back into Iran. A moment later, U.S. and Iraqi forces came upon a third Iranian soldier on the Iraqi side of the border, who stood his ground. As U.S. and Iraqi soldiers approached the Iranian officer and began speaking with him, a platoon of Iranian soldiers appeared and moved to surround the coalition patrol, taking up positions on high ground. At that point, according to the Army's statement, the Iranian captain told the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers that if they tried to leave they would be fired on. Fearing abduction by the Iranians, U.S. troops moved to go anyway, and fighting broke out.

France Lecture

Friday, May 4, 2007 12:00 PM NEW!
France and the United States: Perspectives on the Past and Prospects for the Future
Jean-David Levitte, French Ambassador to the United States
The Chicago Club
81 East Van Buren
Chicago, IL 60605
Members: $35
Nonmembers: $45

Myspace Israel

Yup, diplomacy is dead. Israel is the hip-new cool place to be on Myspace. I only wish I had a page so I can make Israel, Mexico, and England my top three friends.

Israel goes on the virtual offensive
"We saw that we had a problem with the age group of 18 to 35, and the reason is that this group doesn't see Israel as relevant. So we have to talk to them in their language, in platforms that they are using, and the new media is one of the ways to do so." In addition to the MySpace page, the state of Israel also now has its own blog -- the first country-as-a-whole to have one, according to Saranga. The blog is called "isRealli" so as to incorporate the word "real." It also sports the slightly odd subtitle, "The New Blog of Israel."

Why Blog?

I keep getting this question, why blog when you are untenured? The reasons are simple:
I want to post news articles for my students to read.
I want to link to important and interesting research.
I want to highlight local talks and events that might be of interest to my students.
I like to be funny sometimes and AIM is boring now.
I won't quit because I never do that.

So its that simple. This whole blog thing does not take much time. Link an article, add a snarky comment, find a funny photo...done, 10 minutes tops.

Ninjas! Military!

I really got more excited about this article than I needed to be.
Angola sends 2500 'ninjas' to Zimbabwe

Speaking event

Speaking event for extra credit.

Solving the Darfur Equation

The past four years have seen hundreds of thousands of Darfuri civilians killed, and millions more subjected to displacement, starvation, and rape by the Janjaweed militia. The Sudanese government is accused of supporting this militia, so what are the real prospects for resolving the conflict in Darfur? Does the solution fall to outside forces? What are the consequences of the conflict spilling over Sudan’s borders?

Please join the GOAt audience in welcoming these experts to the Schubas’s stage to discuss this important issue…

Schubas

3159 North Southport
Chicago, IL 60657

6:30 p.m. – doors open
7:00 p.m. – talk/audience Q&A following discussion

$10 – members/nonmembers

Would the last NeoCon to leave Washington Please Turn Out the Lights

Moderation in foreign policy, what a shocking concept.

Sensing Shift in Bush Policy, Another Hawk Leaves

Robert Joseph is the latest to leave an administration that some conservatives say has lost its clarity of mission.

Facts on File

Here is the link to the Facts on File resource
*only for UIC students. Use this instead of Wikipedia or random newspapers of dubious quality.


And here is a pic of some dogs I have been wanting to put up just for the heck of it.

http://www.2facts.com.proxy.cc.uic.edu/stories/digest-home-feature.asp

Our crazy North Korean Uncle

Lots of rivalry stuff in this article.

Cleaning Up the 20th Century

Asian history runs deep in the negotiations to disarm Kim Jong-il.
"History can be omnipresent or repressed in northeast Asia, but nearly everyone agrees it is festering and unresolved. Historic resentments and nationalist anger are volatile and easily inflamed, as evidenced by the outrage that followed recent comments by Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, about Korean “comfort women” in World War II. Yet, most often, that anger is compartmentalized to protect the hum of commerce. China and Japan conduct record bilateral trade even as public attitudes in both countries can range anywhere from mutual distrust to open loathing. North Korea is a bit like the crazy uncle whose refusal to stay locked and quiet in the region’s attic has forced everyone to the same table, with historic baggage and contemporary rivalries in tow."

French History of Warfare

France, not so good on the war thing. I have no idea if the following is a complete record of France's involvement in war. I could check but that is just putting way too much effort into this whole blog thing when I should be publishing.

France 4 - World 28
- American Revolution
- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

- French Revolution
- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

We Are Going to Hell

I knew I was going to hell for something, I didn't think it would be capitalism.

Chavez launches biting US attack
"Those who want to go directly to hell, they can follow capitalism," Mr Chavez said in the town of Trinidad in Bolivia. "And those of us who want to build heaven here on earth, we will follow socialism," he added"

PS: The Mayans are a little insulted that Bush came to town:
"That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture,"

Diplomacy is not dead, it is just a little distracted

Morgenthau believed diplomacy was dead because we don't have good diplomats anymore. He may have been right.

Israel recalls 'naked ambassador'

"Israel has recalled its ambassador to El Salvador after he was found drunk and naked apart from bondage gear. Reports say he was able to identify himself to police only after a rubber ball had been removed from his mouth. "

China Speakers

All are extra credit options

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2007
Winter Quarter World Beyond the Headlines
The China Fantasy: How Our Leaders Explain Away Chinese Repression
James Mann, author
University of Chicago International House, Assembly Hall
1414 E. 59th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
Free Registration

Monday, April 9, 2007
ASIA IN CHICAGO
Beneath the Superpower Façade: China's Deepest Fears and the Avoidable Conflict with the United States
Susan L. Shirk, Professor of Political Science, University of California, San Diego; Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China
Hilton Chicago
720 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Members: $20
Nonmembers: $30

300 the Politics

For as much as I talk about this movie, I should get free tickets.

That Film’s Real Message? It Could Be: ‘Buy a Ticket’

"Three weeks ago a handful of reporters at an international press junket here for the Warner Brothers movie “300,” about the battle of Thermopylae some 2,500 years ago, cornered the director Zack Snyder with an unanticipated question.
“Is George Bush Leonidas or Xerxes?” one of them asked."

"Some attendees walked out of a screening there, while others insisted on seeing its presentation of the Spartans’ defense of Western civilization in the face of a Persian horde as propaganda for America’s position vis-à-vis Iraq and Iran."

No Plan B

Were here one way not to fail, don't have any other options. This should go well...oh, and that dirty word containment is coming up again.

No U.S. Backup Strategy For Iraq

"Pace had a simple way of summarizing the administration's position, Gov. Phil Bredesen (D-Tenn.) recalled. "Plan B was to make Plan A work."
Most options involve partial or complete U.S. redeployment from Baghdad and other violent urban centers, followed by containment of the civil war within Iraq's borders -- keeping out meddlesome neighbors such as Iran and preventing a wider, regional conflict. Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, a former chief of Central Command, the U.S. military headquarters for the Middle East, said Congress is "drifting toward containment" and predicted that option will soon begin gaining popularity."

China's Military Buildup

Lots of China News lately. Just remember - they are not our enemy unless we make them our enemy.

Beijing Accelerates Its Military Spending

The increase prompted the U.S. to renew calls for more transparency about the intent of China’s arms buildup.


A review of recent news from Asia Times:
A Healthier - Better Armed - China
"In an apparent effort to placate the public and implement President Hu Jintao's plan to build a "harmonious society" and put "people first", Premier Wen Jiabao said he will sharply increase government spending on education and medical care to help the needy and to strengthen efforts to bring down housing prices. At the same time, the Chinese government also plans to increase its national-defense budget by 17.8% this year to step up the modernization of the country's military. "

But war could happen if Taiwan declares independence:

China Slams Taiwan's Independence Talk
"Seeking independence is not a dangerous step backward," he said. However, Chen has stopped short of formally declaring independence, a move that would cross the United States, which fears involvement in any potential cross-strait clash."
"Don't listen to local leaders," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told Taiwan reporters in Beijing, a reference to China's view that Taiwan is a mere province. "Whoever wants to split away will become a criminal in history."

Rivalry Class

Sorry I have been MIA with the blog lately, ISA ate up a lot of time.

For the rivalry class, we will be wrapping up last weeks notes on Rivalry Beginnings and finishing Rivalry Endings also. Remember we have a short answer test coming up soon and I have really been disappointed with the level of participation based on readings lately. If things do not change, the test will be made a lot harder than I anticipated (ie. random questions from the readings not referenced in class).